Girls Basketball Big School Capsules: State runner-up Sheridan highlights talented area squads

THORNVILLE — A memorable season for Sheridan fell short of a state championship, yet expectations remain high for the Generals and eighth-year coach J.D. Walters.

Replacing Faith Stinson, the Division II player of the year and Akron freshman, and Bailey Beckstedt, who is at West Liberty, will be a challenge. Key contributors Abby Dupler, Kinze Miller and Meg Saffell also graduated from the 25-4 squad.

Junior Jamisyn Stinson, a second team All-Ohioan, will step into a more prominent role after scoring more than 17 points per game for the Co-Muskingum Valley League Big School Champions. Halle Warner and Nora Saffell, both were recognized by the Southeast District and MVL, will also take on larger roles.

Seniors Macie Forgrave and Kaelyn Moss are also back, while sophomores Ava Heller and Payton Powell, who saw limited varsity time, will fill out the varsity rotation.

Walters wants to see how his team comes together after losing a pair of four-year starters and a ton of experience.

"Our team will have a different identity this year with the loss of such a great senior class. We played well in the summer and have an athletic team so there are exciting opportunities for how we can play," he said. "We expect the MVL to be a battle with Tri-Valley and John Glenn as well as New Lex in the Small School division."

John Glenn

It was a historic season for the Muskies, who finished 19-8 and won sectional and district championships. They also fell two points shy of knocking off Sheridan in the regional semifinals.

Gary Sigman, who enters his third season on the bench, brings back a core of his starting five. Angela Kumler, the all-district and league selection, Rachel Meinert and Kylynn Barr are among the losses, while seniors Mckinzi Linscott and Kylah Morgan and sophomore Mya Oliver headline the returning letter winners.

Oliver, who can play the point or shooting guard, poured in 12 points per game to go with 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals in earning first team MVL and District 12 honors and second team East District accolades. Linscott, a District 12 second teamer, provides a post presence after contributing 8.2 points and 8.7 rebounds and Morgan, also a guard, is another shooting threat on the perimeter.

Senior guard Marissa Saki, juniors Madeline Winland (center), Chelsea Sotherden (center who missed last season due to injury), Aleea Musselman (G/F) and Emma Dolan (G/F) and sophomores Riley Zamensky (PG/SG/F) and Jessica Church (PG/SG/F) make up the rest of the varsity roster.

Though there is varsity experience on the roster, Sigman noted his team has room to improve.

"We have a lot of returning lettermen this season, but we are still a young team," he said. "The girls have been competing in practices and during scrimmages. We feel good about our opportunity to compete this season."

Tri-Valley

The Scotties return key players for a regional squad, which finished 24-3 with MVL, sectional and district titles, as Kurt Kaufman enters his eighth season with the program.

The losses include the hard-nosed play of Anna Krupa and the post presence of Janie McLoughlin, along with guards Hannah King and Kendall Baughman, but senior Lexi Howe, one of the area's top players, is back to lead the way.

Howe, a first-team All-Ohioan, East District, District 12 and MVL selection, averaged 17 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists a year ago, while sophomore Mackenzie Harvey looks to build on a strong freshman campaign after chipping in 7.5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Senior Ashley Dinan, juniors PD Moore and Karlee Rose, who missed last season due to injury, and sophomore Jacie Rollison also return to the varsity squad.

Tri-Valley will have depth, as junior forwards Sami Cameron and Kylan Brock, sophomore Addison Wilson and freshman Maddie Garber will be vying for playing time.

Kaufman is focused on blending his experienced letter winners with the newcomers.

"We need to mix in our key veterans with some talented youth," he said. "We're working to become a tough, hard-nosed defensive team."

Zanesville

The Lady Devils will rely on a strong junior core for Jeff Moore, who starts his 10th season with the program, which went 12-12 with a sectional title last year.

Zanesville lost its main post presence in Alexis Barnett and one of its guards in Brooklyn Snoddy, but five juniors will carry the load.

Junior Jersey Draughn, a first team Licking County League pick and All-Ohio honorable mention, led the team with 14 points per game last year with classmate Kandrea Sowers, a LCL second teamer, back after scoring 10 points. Juniors Jada Seyfried, the team's top 3-point threat, Kylie Osborne, who contributed 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds, and Rylee McCuen are also back.

A pair of sophomores, Kamy Morgan and Ayanna Stewart, and freshman Rayne Newman will join the varsity rotation, as Moore looks for more even play from his squad.

"Our five junior starters provide varsity experience, as we have to build on last year's inconsistency, at times, with more maturity," Moore said.

Philo

A roster full of upperclassmen has ninth-year coach Dan Hilty looking forward to building on an 11-13 season that included a sectional title.

Zoe Dodson, Kierston Harper, Caglea Shook and Emily Keylor are the key losses, while senior Olivia Dement and junior Bailey Dement, who both earned MVL and District honors, headline the returning letter winners. Bailey led the team with 8.4 points per game and Olivia contributed 7.7 per game.

Junior Caitlin Rose, who scored five points per game, senior Kennedy Rinkes and sophomore Aleigha Busse also return, while senior center Riley Rhoades, who is back from injury, highlights the newcomers. Junior forwards Bri Wolfe and Olivia Winland and freshmen Halli Harris (G) and Olivia Fink (F) also join the squad.

Hilty likes the blend of talent on this squad, as Philo looks to battle in a deep MVL.

"The players are working hard and improving every day," Hilty said. "We have a good mixture of experience and youth that has us excited about the season."

Maysville

Bill Crane enters his second season leading a young Panthers' squad that finished 3-18 last season.

The losses include leading scorer Jayda McGarvey, Laikyn Lewellen and Trinity Taggart, while guard Emily Lawson, a second team MVL selection, highlights the returning letter winners. Forward Ashtyn Merlo and fellow guards Jerzie Blackketter and Taelyn Dickenson are also back.

Several new faces join the rotation. Sophomores Bekah Scott and Emerson Williams will see time at guard, as will freshmen Rachael Gundlefinger, Miley Fulkerson and Kayona Hostetler, while freshman Bella VanWey will see time at forward.

Crane noted low numbers will limit his depth, but his players are "buying into the process."

"We’ve been consistently showing growth and slowly adding to their toolkit weekly," he said. "The girls have started to embrace expectations and wanting more, and I've seen it in practices and scrimmages so far. Achievable goals have been set by the team, and I am excited to see their progress throughout the year."

River View

The Lady Bears will lean on their seniors, as Marty Bice returns to the bench for his 23rd overall season of coaching girls basketball.

Bice said, "our goal is to get better every day," and four senior guards will lead that effort. Lily Yoder returns to run the point, while classmates Prestyn Patterson, Payton Cabe and Brie Hagans should see the bulk of the time in a deep-guard rotation.

River View lost some skill from last season's 4-18 squad, as Aaliyah Better, Kelsey Bowman and Lauren Killiany graduated, while freshman Elaina Brenly highlights the newcomers.

bhannahs@gannett.com; @brandonhannahs

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Girls Basketball Big School Capsules: State runner-up Sheridan highlights talented area squads